What Does It Take to Be an Entrepreneur? Melissa Bernstein, Co-Founder of Melissa & Doug, on Business and Entrepreneurship

What Does It Take to Be an Entrepreneur? Melissa Bernstein, Co-Founder of Melissa & Doug, on Business and Entrepreneurship

Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming about quitting your job, being your own boss, and finally building something that feels like yours? That fantasy of business and entrepreneurship is powerful. The reality, however, is different. Starting a business and stepping into entrepreneurism is often far more challenging than the dream suggests.

If you have ever asked yourself what does it take to be an entrepreneur, this episode of the Love, Happiness and Success podcast will help you find answers. I sat down with Melissa Bernstein, an entrepreneur, creative, author, and mother of six. She is the co-founder of the billion-dollar toy company Melissa & Doug and the wellness brand Lifelines. Melissa’s wisdom comes from decades of lived experience, and she shares the heart of what it really means to pursue business and entrepreneurship with purpose.

The Heart of Business and Entrepreneurship

Melissa describes entrepreneurism as an act of passion, patience, and purpose. These “Three Ps” sustain entrepreneurs long after the novelty fades and obstacles begin to appear.

• Passion: Not a passing whim, but a deep love of the process. Successful entrepreneurs thrive on the act of creating every day, not only the dream of success.
• Patience: Businesses rarely become overnight successes. Many take years before ideas gain traction, which is why the journey itself must feel meaningful.
• Purpose: If your “why” is only financial, it will not carry you through setbacks. A mission rooted in meaning, something that touches lives, sustains entrepreneurs for the long haul.

Melissa expands on these ideas in her forthcoming book, “The Heart of Entrepreneurship: Crafting Your Authentic Recipe for Success,” coming November 11, 2025. In it, she draws on her own entrepreneurial journey and years of teaching and mentoring. The book offers practical guidance and reflective exercises that help you uncover your unique recipe for success. It also shows you how to navigate the inner terrain of fear, ego, and purpose that comes with starting a business.

What Does It Take to Be an Entrepreneur?

Melissa says she can often tell within minutes whether someone has what it takes to succeed in business and entrepreneurship. Surprisingly, it is not about the idea. It is about the person.

Successful entrepreneurs often show:

• A love of learning and curiosity. Melissa calls this a “crystallizing experience,” the moment when you dive so deeply into a subject that it becomes a lifelong passion.
• Openness to experience. This includes the ability to see the extraordinary in the ordinary, connect unexpected dots, and approach life with fresh eyes.
• Resilience. Entrepreneurs do more than tolerate setbacks. They welcome them as opportunities to learn, adapt, and stand apart from the competition.
• Courage to protect fragile ideas. Creative visions need time to incubate before being exposed to outside opinions.

This perspective reframes entrepreneurism. It is not simply a spreadsheet or an escape plan. Instead, it is a deeply personal and often spiritual calling.